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New Statistical Technique Shows More Informative Picture Of Cancer Survival
01/08/2008
Researchers have developed a new method for presenting clinical trial survival data that includes data from all trial participants unlike the standard method, according to a commentary published online January 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Genomics Fact Sheet
01/01/2008
Avastin Approved in Europe for First-line Treatment of Patients with Advanced Kidney Cancer
12/19/2007
Avastin offers patients the chance to live twice as long without their disease advancing. Roche's innovative anti-cancer drug, was approved today in Europe for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell cancer (RCC) in combination with interferon (IFN), the current standard of care (1). Kidney cancer, known as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease that kills over 100,000 people per year world-wide (2).
Robotic Surgery Facilitates Partial Nephrectomy
12/11/2007
Robotic partial nephrectomy for patients with complex kidney tumors accomplishes tumor resection and renal reconstruction while minimizing warm ischemia times, claims a new study. Researchers at the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA) assessed a total of 14 tumors that were resected by robotic partial nephrectomy from eight patients (mean age 50.3 years) with complex kidney tumor features, which included hilar, completely endophytic, or multiple tumors. The results showed that the robotic partial nephrectomy procedures were performed successfully without complications. Hilar clamping was used with a mean warm ischemia time of 31 minutes; mean blood loss was 230 milliliters. Histopathology confirmed three cases of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, two of hybrid oncocytic tumor, two chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, and an oncocytoma. Mean index tumor size was 3.6 cm, and all patients had negative surgical margins. At 3-months follow-up, no patients experienced a statistically significant change in serum creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate and there was no evidence of tumor recurrence. The study was published ahead of print on October 15, 2007, in the online version of European Urology. A robotic approach can facilitate the technical challenges of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, potentially allowing select patients to receive a minimally-invasive and nephron-sparing surgery who might otherwise receive open surgery or total nephrectomy, said first author Dr. Craig Rogers, director of robotic kidney surgery at Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit, MI, USA). Sourc: medinews.com
The burden of illness associated with renal cell carcinoma in the United States
12/07/2007
There were over 36,000 new cases of kidney cancer reported in the United States in 2004, the most common type being renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Available treatments for localized RCC frequently lead to cure; however RCC patients with advanced disease have limited treatment options and low survival rates. Data on the economic burden of RCC are limited. Source: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations
Wyeth Receives Honors at the 2007 Scrip Awards
12/05/2007
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), announced today that it has been recognized for its leading scientific and pharmaceutical achievements at the third annual Scrip Awards ceremony held in London, England on December 4. Wyeth received honors for Best Overall Pipeline, and Best New Drug. The awards are given out by Scrip World Pharmaceutical News, a leading source of global business news in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in recognition of companies and products that contribute to science and human health.
Novartis plans four cancer drugs by 2011
12/05/2007
The first new drug Novartis seeks to market is RAD001, which it is testing against several types of cancer, including endocrine tumors and renal-cell cancer, Epstein told the newspaper.
Sword, fire, ice offer options in small renal masses
12/01/2007
Nephrectomy is the gold standard, but ablative therapies are gaining acceptance in specific situations of renal cell carcinoma. Source: Urology Times
Freezing tumors eases cancer pain in study
11/28/2007
Freezing tumors may help relieve the extreme pain of cancer that has spread to the bone, which is often untouched by narcotics or radiation, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. This freezing process, called cryoablation, is often used to destroy kidney, prostate and other tumors, but researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, found it eased cancer pain in 80 percent of patients in a small study, and the effect lasted for up to six months.
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